Update: Area Plan 2008-2012
A. GOAL: Provide citywide leadership on aging issues
1. Objective: Foster collaboration between aging network and community organizations
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In a new initiative, PCA allied with a Community Development Corporation (CDC) and
university to develop a citywide study of walkability for all ages and a neighborhood
study using seniors to audit the physical environment.
PCA won the EPA’s Commitment Award for Building Healthy Communities for Active
Aging.
Developed the Age-friendly Parks Checklist project and developed a report for the
website.
Currently working with a UPenn urban planning class, and an Occupational Therapy
class at Univ of the Sciences to identify “Signature Age-friendly Parks” to promote to
seniors. Fairmount Park Conservancy will be seeking funding to expand this program
and fund senior programming in these signature sites. The Pennsylvania Horticulture
Society is using the checklist on park renovations now too.
2. Objective: Provide assistance to neighborhood-based initiatives.
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Completed Laying the Foundation for an Age-friendly Philadelphia: Progress Report and
the subsequent PCA website section
PCA participated in an advisory capacity to seven Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities (NORC) initiatives throughout the city and a startup TimeBank.
3. Objective: Nurture geriatric career opportunities
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Always considered a part of training, PCA provided internships in social work, nursing,
undergraduate and graduate public health and research in the geriatric field and
internships for BSWs and MSWs in long-term care (LTC). Internships often serve as a
recruitment tool for PCA.
A pilot program was begun in 2010 with the University of the Arts exposed alumni to
teach arts classes to older adults at senior centers. This program was funded by a PECO
grant. It is hoped that this experience with the University of the Arts, which does not
currently have internships, will encourage them to create internships in the future. PCA is
still attempting to work with UArts in support of student internships.
4. Objective: Provide multiple ways for members of the aging network to learn about new
research findings relevant to their needs and new methods they can use to evaluate their
own ongoing programs and services
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PCA assisted community organizations in the aging network to evaluate the effectiveness
of their programs so they are better able to serve their consumers and track the success of
their programs to seek funding. It is continuing to provide data, maps and reports on
aging in Philadelphia.
At the agency’s 2009 Lawton Conference, 15 community groups specializing in a variety
of technical analytical methods introduced their resources to the aging network.
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Since July, 2010, PCA sponsored two Lawton Conferences, each designed to share
information about new types of programs offered at the neighborhood level to help older
adults remain in their homes and communities.
The Research Department has expanded the number and types of maps provided to
community groups as it has acquired new sources of data on environmental
characteristics ranging from crime to corner stores to abandoned properties. By
integrating quantitative information with maps, PCA was able to provide more
information to agencies to support their efforts. This included specialized reports for
specific events, such as a report on seniors and automobiles for an event on senior
transportation sponsored by GenPhilly.
PCA evaluated the impact of senior gardening and shared it with organizations in the
aging network. The report was also distributed to all the senior centers in the State of
Pennsylvania.
Findings were shared with groups outside the aging network to make them more aware of
aging issues. In December 2011, a presentation was made at a workshop on social capital
sponsored by the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) about the impact of
social capital on the health of older adults.
Annual presentations were made at the American Society on Aging (ASA) Fall series,
ASA national and Gerontological Society of America (GSA) national.
Prepared maps and data for the Mayor’s Commission on Aging (MCOA) and to support
the MCOA’s effort to become a WHO-Age Friendly City. PCA has also supported the
MOCA’s work on seniors and hunger by providing maps and data for their report.
Publicized research findings at public forums, meetings, in customized reports and with
GIS mapping.
5. Objective: Develop new training programs geared specifically to helping community and
neighborhood-based organizations support older persons and for older persons to help
themselves and others.
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PCA made presentations to older adults in faith-based organizations on: Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren; Are Your Affairs in Order?; and Beyond Cultural Competence.
Each Spring, Community Relations conducted training to the network on Property Tax
and Rent Rebates and fuel assistance.
Continued to provide cultural competency training for the aging network on Asian and
Latino cultures. In 2011, conducted training on African-Caribbean culture.
6. Objective: Broaden the availability of aging programs.
 With the Free Library of Philadelphia, in 2008 and 2009, two libraries received health
promotion programs (Pain Management and Emergency Preparedness). In 2010, six (6)
libraries received health promotion programs in: Complementary and Alternative
Medicine; Restless Leg Syndrome; and Seeing Clearly.
Experience has shown that some libraries do not draw many older adults for
programming. The objective is to provide programming only to those libraries that have
demonstrated that they can register 15 or more older adults for programs.
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B. GOAL: Ensure aging and community organizations, and consumers and
their families, receive accurate and timely access to information about
services and programs.
1. Objective: Expand PCA Community Outreach Program (COP)
 Including the four full-time staff in Community Relations and a COPs complement of 30
persons, PCA participated in increasing numbers of health fairs and presentations over
the last four years. The number of outreaches increased on the weekends and during the
week and week nights. Ten more PCA staff trained for the Community Outreach
Program.
 Due to PCA’s increased capacity to respond to requests for outreaches, the number of
outreaches increased each year. In FY2012, the total will exceed 400.
 Beginning in 2010, PCA began reaching out to consumers, especially caregivers, through
corporate outreach. PCA will identify suitable companies and select a few for a pilot.
PCA met with eight organizations representing a wide range of industries (e.g. hospitals,
universities, banks, health insurance, free library) and offered a variety of ways for them
to provide information to their employees who are caregivers. Available materials
included rack cards, articles for newsletters, e-mail blasts and intranets, lunch and learn
seminars, link to PCA’s website, and PCA table at open enrollment/benefits fairs.
2. Objective: Reach additional Limited English Proficient (LEP) consumers and their
families with information about services.
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PCA uses bilingual staff whenever possible. PCA recruited bilingual, bicultural staff to
serve LTC consumers. LTC staff members speak Spanish, Russian, Ukranian, Polish,
Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi and Mende. PCA’s LTC department also has a specialized
team of interpreters who add Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese and Italian to the
language capability.
In 2009, PCA held a health fair for more than 200 Asian Indian elders. Community
Relations met with the Korean Senior Association and held a “Lunch & Learn” with the
Vietnamese and Cambodian communities. PCA took a more intimate approach with the
smaller Laotian and Indonesian communities and held “Lunch & Learns” in FY2010.
For the first time, conducted “Lunch and Learn” for Haitian community and distributed
Produce Vouchers to Haitian elders.
Health Fairs were held for Koreans and Cambodians in FY 2012 and a Health Fair will be
held for Vietnamese elders in the spring of 2012.
Held a Chinese Health Fair for 300 seniors in 2010 targeting Mandarin and Cantonese
speaking elders. A new group of Chinese elders from Fujian Province attended.
During the first two years of this Area Plan, the PCA Helpline installed five dedicated
language answering lines for Asian communities: Cantonese/Mandarin; Hindi; Khmer;
Korean; and Vietnamese.
The APPRISE insurance counseling program has expanded tremendously and is
expected to continue to do so as a result of health care reform legislation. Communitybased organizations have added additional limited English proficient (LEP) volunteers
(including Chinese and French Creole) to be trained as insurance reviewers for
APPRISE. PCA translated APPRISE and Low Income Subsidy (LIS) information into
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Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Khmer and Russian and shared it with the Center for Medicaid
and Medicare (CMS). A companion piece, “How to Cultivate a Connected Caring
Community” has been translated into Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish and
Vietnamese. In addition, PCA created new pop-up displays in multiple languages for
APPRISE. Translated materials are still being used and were shared with the rest of the
state. However, this initiative was started with a one-time grant. This funding is no
longer available and the programs have since experienced some staffing turnover.
Therefore, this project has essentially ended.
The message, “Seniors Struggle. A little bit of you can pull them through,” was also
carried in community newspapers in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese, as well
as religious radio.
PCA translated state enrollment documents, information about rights to appeals, care
plans, fact sheets for Options and Waiver and right and responsibilities.
Have an overview of services brochure, which was translated into nine languages.
Translated PCA’s most critical news releases for distribution to foreign-language media
outlets, which in Philadelphia comprise Korean and Spanish language broadcast and print
media.
3. Objective: Encourage community based organizations to increase face-to-face contact with
seniors.
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PCA engages the Asian and Latino advisory Councils in planning meetings and selecting
topics of interest. The Asian Advisory Council decided to hold a health fair for more than
200 Asian Indian older adults in 2009.
PCA distributed $10,000 grants to five agencies in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for these
Community Based Service grants. Due to funding constraints, this was not possible for
FY2011.
4. Objective: Promote community initiatives and best practices.
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NORC Support Service Programs, Villages, The Senior Environmental Corp and other
types of community initiatives were highlighted at the PCA Regional Aging Conference.
5. Objective: Disseminate information about PCA and aging network programs and services.
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The APPRISE program has received a grant as part of the Medicare Improvements for
Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) that will run thru FY 2011 that is to be used to
encourage consumers to get signed up for Low Income Subsidy (LIS) and Medicare
Savings Program (MSP). Low Income Subsidy is a federal program for assistance
meeting fees related to Medicare Part D and for the MSP, a program run at the state level
to assist with Medicare Part B fees.) MIPPA efforts continue via submitting both LIS and
MSP applications for consumers as part of one-on-one counseling, and via two Outreach
Approaches, Family Living Homes and Mental Health, although no supporting funds for
either effort have yet been made available for FY 12.
PCA created an age friendly message, “Seniors Struggle. A little bit of you can pull them
through.” During 2008-2010 this was on TV in English in Spanish; on NBC.com website;
and transit cards and posters. The “Millennial’s campaign,” continues a version of the
“Senior Struggle” message but with the idea young singles would be inclined and have
time to check up on neighbors is related to “Create a Connected Caring Community.”
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PCA used E-blasts to the City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly, as well as phawker.com
and philebrity.com to generate its messages.
Because of reduced resources during this period, PCA used less expensive methods to
advertise PCA. PCA is using a more grassroots approach to reach consumers. For
example, beginning March 2010 and lasting one year, pharmacy bags at 10 Pathmark
locations were printed with the PCA Helpline number.
PCA developed a 4-color rack card for the corporate outreach campaign to be used in
high volume locations. Called “Speaking of Aging,” it has been distributed to libraries
and corporations and used for outreach.
PCA partnered with Pfizer Inc. to have 25 Pfizer reps distribute 100,000 PCA Senior
Health Guides to more than 800 doctor’s offices in Philadelphia. Doctor’s practices
included internal medicine, family medicine, cardiology, urology, orthopedics, geriatrics,
and more.
Rather than take a “one size fits all approach,” PCA expanded public relations to
individual community papers and customizes stories to people in areas where they live.
With this method, PCA has been able to specifically reach African-Americans
community papers, The Tribune, English, Spanish, and Korean community papers.
A senior community center grass roots marketing campaign is launching this Spring. The
theme is “Philly’s Senior Centers. The Original Social Network.” Key campaign
components include Facebook training attended by 20 centers, organizing and
implementing a volunteer effort to display posters throughout the community (e.g.
grocery stores, beauty shops, churches), a PR effort to link the importance of
centers/socialization to the health and well-being of seniors, and producing :15 and :30
PSAs for unpaid media placement.
5. Objective: Increase use of pcaCares.org and News Bulletin to deliver timely and
accurate information.
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In March 2009, PCA revamped the PCA News Bulletin and debuted Milestones e-news,
bringing stories to subscribers five days a week.
Increased links to website and PCA News Bulletin.
Milestones e-news is a weekly publication aimed at consumers and family caregivers. It
features two original stories each week, along with headlines and events. It now has
1,320 subscribers.
Traffic to pcaCares.org has increased from an average of 1,800 visits per week in 2009 to
an average of 9,450 visits per week as of March 31, 2012; we average 916 new visitors
per day. This has been accomplished through a combination of promotion; search engine
optimization; and redesign of the navigation and interface to improve ease of use and
access.
PCA now has 819 subscribers to the News Bulletin. Five days a week the publication
features headlines from around the nation; action items; events; and a new Aging News
story about local resources, opportunities, research, conferences, policy issues and other
matters of interest to the aging network. Feedback from the aging network indicates that
it is viewed as a valuable resource and as a vital clearinghouse for information about the
entire network, not only about PCA, which was our goal.
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In 2012, PCA launched a PCA Facebook page and Twitter account. These are used to
further disseminate vital information on aging to older Philadelphians, caregivers and
professionals. Content includes links to the week’s aging news and enews stories and
information about breaking news as it is received.
In tandem with this initiative, the Planning and Program Management departments have
worked with senior centers to launch and maintain and update their own Facebook pages.
This initiative is designed to attract and inform the cohort of 50-65 year-olds who are
aging into the demographic which PCA serves, but who may not see themselves as
candidates for senior center participation or for services. It is hoped that through
Facebook a new audience will be reached, and the image and perception of senior centers
can be enhanced and updated to match the many opportunities and services they provide.
C. GOAL: Ensure comprehensive and coordinated services are available and
accessible to older adults in need of long term care services in the
community
1. Objective: Promote Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) as the preferred
service delivery option.
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Through the assessment process, consumers are informed of all they might be eligible for
and entitled to, and at reassessments make sure care plan meets service needs.
Completed update of remaining 3 of 13 clinical protocols Updated all but two protocols:
Protective Services and Medication Management. Plans are to update these by 2012 were
not completed.
Completed Standards of Care and Fact Sheets for consumers and caregivers for managing
functional needs.
2. Objective: Address the changing care and preferences of successive cohorts of older
adults.
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PCA offered consumer choice through Personal Assistance Service (PAS).
PCA did not roll out “Services My Way,” a consumer-directed model during the second
half of the area plan. The State will provide the tools for management of this program.
3. Objective: Expand HCBS into emerging models of residential settings
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Assisted living legislation regulations have been promulgated.
Completed video to recruit consumers and providers for Domiciliary Care (DomCare)
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Recruited 35 new consumers annually for DomCare. A total of 140 were recruited
between 2008 to the present.
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4. Objective: Increase services in the community and decrease nursing home entry for the
consumers PCA serves.
 Total Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) ensured care plans met peoples’ needs.
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Nursing Home Transition Program (NHT) had an active role in this during 2008-2010.
NHT transitioned 232 individuals from a nursing facility to a community residence.
PCA saw continued and significant growth in the Waiver program. PCA is looking at
reasons why consumers enter nursing homes and is trying to identify barriers to
remaining in the community.
NOTE: Monitoring of Aging Waiver providers is now done by Office of Long Term Living
(OLTL). PCA monitors Options providers only.
5. Objective: Develop programs to support older adult relative caregivers of dependent
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In the past two years, PCA has supported and worked closely with two programs that
provide a variety of services to adult relatives, primarily grandparents, who are raising
dependent children. In the future, PCA’s Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) will
be able to serve a new group of caregivers who may be considered for eligibility to the
program. Caregivers age 55 or older who are providing care to adult relatives with
disabilities, who are between 19 and 59 years of age, can now be served by FCSP. The
care giver and the care receiver must live together and the care giver cannot be the parent
of the care receiver.
There is an increased need for FCSP services: the wait list has increased to 137 persons.
6. Objective: Continue to advocate with community agencies to identify the behavioral health
needs of older adults, and to improve access to behavioral health services.
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PCA will continue to coordinate needed care for consumers with behavioral health
agencies and the Office of Behavioral Health.
7. Objective: Position PCA to be able to appropriately respond to funding and structural
challenges in the delivery of home and community based LTC services.
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Continued analysis of PCA’s service data, outside data, including community based data.
For example, a preliminary analysis of which cases are most resource intensive and a
preliminary analysis of whether minorities have a greater need for Waiver or Options
services.
PCA’s Research Department placed data in the wider context of the city’s population:
What predicts the need for care in the first place - minority status or poverty? PCA is
trying to understand these implications and their effects on service.
In the continuing effort to understand PCA’s service delivery, PCA’s Research
Department re-did a case-mix study from 2009 because it was not obvious why Waiver
consumers are different from Options consumers.
LTC continued to look at different pilots and programs during the second half of the area
plan.
LTC is working with UPenn, which submitted a proposal to CMS to expand the
collaborative ElderPAC model to other Penn practices.
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LTC is also looking for other collaborative opportunities, such as providing services to
the Veterans Affairs. LTC has developed, and will implement within the next quarter, a
Veterans Directed HCBS program.
D. GOAL: Support senior centers to provide multiple opportunities to
enhance quality of life for older adults
1. Objective: Promote efforts which maximize mobility of elders in the community.
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Increased the number of participants in the Healthy Steps for Older Adults programs
by 5% each year. PCA exceeded this goal, in FY2010, 9 senior centers and 8 senior
housing sites participated, a total of 346 older adults were served. Healthy Steps
programming expanded during 2010-2012 to other organizations that serve seniors. In
FY2011, 232 adults were served in programs at 8 senior centers and 3 programs at
PCA. In FY2012, a total of 298 adults are expected to have been served in programs
at 10 senior centers, 5 senior housing sites, and at 1 program held at PCA.
Used Prime Time Health (PTH) Funds for EnhanceFitness, an evidence based
exercise program, and other alternative exercise programs at center centers and senior
housing sites.
Convened meetings between senior centers and community groups on a regular basis
to share ideas.
2. Objective: Maximize the use and availability of fixed route and paratransit public
transportation for older Philadelphians.
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There continue to be limitations on funding for growing transportation needs. On a
positive note, although SEPTA is seeking a fixed route increase, there will be no
increase in paratransit rates.
3. Objective: Promote disease self-management and healthy lifestyle programs in senior
centers and in community-based settings.
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In 2009, PCA conducted Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)
training for 10 lay facilitators. Three CDSMP classes were offered at one senior
center.
For 2010-2012, PCA received a grant for more than $500,000 to work with 12 senior
centers, aging and community organizations to provide CDSMP in Spanish and in
English to 1,602 persons. The goal was revised to 1,502. To date, 1,243 older adults
completed 4 or more sessions of a 6-session workshop.
PCA conducted 9 lay leader trainings; trained a total of 121 lay leaders; and held
more than 100 workshops.
In FY 2011, EnhanceFitness and alternative exercise programs were offered at 9
senior centers and alternate exercise programs were offered at 19. In FY 2012,
EnhanceFitness was provided at 9 senior centers and alternate exercise programs
were funded at 15 senior centers.
In FY2012, six (6) libraries received health promotion programs.
All senior centers received health promotion programs in seven (7) of the PTH
priority areas.
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4. Objective: Provide a variety of educational opportunities to respond to the diverse
interests of the senior population.
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At quarterly meetings of the senior center directors, marketing remains a standing
agenda item. Various programming ideas are being tested to attract more diverse
participants. Among them are themed events, including jazz brunches and weekend
and evening activities.
PCA is working with senior centers to bring more men into senior centers using
health programming. In FY 2010, A Men’s Health program was offered at 6 senior
centers.
Technical assistance and support is provided to senior centers through regular
meetings with the various levels of key center staff. These meetings provide the
opportunity for peer networking, sharing of resource information, and training on
specific skill development topics, all with the goal of enhancing center programs. In
addition, PCA has re-organized staff responsibilities to provide for a more
concentrated focus on identifying resources for ongoing senior center staff and
program development.
An interface has been created between the senior center calendars and the
www.pcaCares.org calendar to permit the centers to have events and classes listed on
the website.
The annual arts celebration was expanded this year in collaboration with
Phillyfunguide.com. Senior center classes, workshops and events were published both
on the Phillyfunguide website and in Milestones newspaper, along with a broad range
of events, classes and discounts at cultural venues throughout the region.
5. Objective: Provide additional volunteer opportunities for older adults at senior centers
and other community locations.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service reduced the age allowed for
Senior Companions from 60 to 55 in 2009. The Senior Companion Program
continues with Korean- speaking companions and now has one Russian-speaking and
a couple Spanish-speaking companions as well. The Senior Companion Program
currently has six Korean speaking companions, one Russian-speaking, one Spanishspeaking companion, and eleven men.
Due to budgetary constraints, senior centers are increasingly using volunteer
instructors. This is expected to increase with the potential pool of retiring Baby
Boomers, their interest in civic engagement and in giving back to the community.
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E. GOAL: To promote a physical environment, including housing and
neighborhood infrastructure, that is suitable for older adults to age in the
community.
1. Objective: Advocate for improved Housing and neighborhood infrastructure by
highlighting the impact of the physical environment on health and well-being of older
adults.
 PCA worked with the Zoning Code Commission in three area of the new zoning
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code: visitability, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Adult Day Care. Although
the Zoning Code did not include these areas in an ideal way, this is the first time that
visitability and ADUs are in the code and there is a requirement that 10% of single
family developments of 50 units or more be visitable.
PCA continued to work with the Philadelphia Visitability Committee and in the past
year has participated in a program on visitability organized by the Community Design
Collaborative in partnership with the Philadelphia Visitability Committee and the
City of Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development.
PCA submitted a proposal on environment, health and aging to the National Institutes
of Health (NIH).
2. Objective: Advocate for more affordable, visitable, visitor-friendly, and accessible
Housing.
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PCA continues to work with the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency around
home modifications and other issues around affordable and accessible housing.
Testified at the Office of Housing and Community Development and City Council on
a number of issues concerning senior housing.
Agreed to participate in a research study with the University of Buffalo on the impact
of home modifications.
PCA has also been meeting with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
to have life-long, aging-in-place communities incorporated in the region’s long-term
plan. The agency has also advocated with the City of Philadelphia’s Streets
Department to slow down walk signals and traffic lights in city neighborhoods.
3. Objective: Address the impact of unaffordable mortgages and foreclosures on older adults.
 PCA worked with counselors in the senior centers funded by the Office of Housing
and Community Development around these issues.
 PCA supported legal services programs and provided assistance with mortgage
problems, reverse mortgages, foreclosure and predatory lending issues.
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F. GOAL: To ensure neighborhoods support older persons as they age in the
community.
1. Objective: Collaborate with community organizations that may not typically serve
seniors to develop aging friendly neighborhoods.
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PCA collaborated with the County Medical Society and invited 50 Block Captains to
attend a presentation about PCA services and services of the aging network. Another
was held in 2011 and a third is scheduled for Spring 2012.
PCA held regular meetings of the Asian and Latino Advisory Councils and the
Interfaith Clergy Coalition, and planned events on topics of interest in the aging field.
PCA focused on sharing information with local aging organizations, local
government and organizations not in the aging network but which have an impact on
the elderly. This has become a major area of interest for research and will continue. In
particular, there have been collaborations with a CDC representing a Spanish
community.
2. Objective: Encourage individuals to become involved in their neighborhoods and to
build aging-friendly communities.
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A new initiative led by PCA, Generation Appreciation Philadelphia, or GenPhilly,
comprises a network of emerging leaders in their 20s and 30s. GenPhilly has two
goals: to cultivate the next generation of leaders in aging, and to inspire peers who
work in fields outside of aging. They have held 8 events.
3. Objective: Encourage senior center staff to connect with consumers who are no longer
able to participate actively at the center.
 Most senior centers routinely call members who no longer come to the center to
check on their status. Sometimes members may need to be linked with transportation,
home delivered meals or a Senior Companion; some may require In Home Support
services or more comprehensive long-term care services. The contact by center staff
helps to assure that the member is appropriately linked with available services to meet
their current needs.
4. Objective: Develop a public education campaign to promote neighbors helping
neighbors.
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A brochure titled “How to Create a Connected Caring Community” was developed as
part of a campaign to promote neighbors helping neighbors. More than 18,000 copies
have been distributed at community outreach events. In 2009, it was translated into
Chinese, Khmer, Korean and Vietnamese.
A dedicated section of the website, www.pcaCares.org, details how to undertake
creation of a caring community, and provides examples.
A collaboration with NBC10 resulted in three hour-long television specials focusing
on this topic in 2007, 2008 and 2009. An advertising campaign, “The Senior
Struggle,” supported the caring community concept with television commercials, bus
cards, email blasts and print ads. A public relations campaign promoted the concept
by highlighting examples of caring communities. A series of articles in Milestones
newspaper also promoted these efforts.
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5. Objective: Develop a training program to educate family members about how to plan for
the future LTC needs of older adults.
 Articles on LTC pre-planning, including estate recovery, have appeared in Milestones
newspaper and in Milestones e-news. Neither a brochure nor training programs on
LTC pre-planning have been created on this topic.
G. GOAL: To promote volunteering and civic engagement as a part of healthy
aging for older adults living anywhere in the community.
1. Objective: Promote volunteer opportunities to diverse populations.
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The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has new locations at On Lok
House and Nationalities Service Center (NSC). RSVP has tutor and mentor
volunteers and is measuring the impact of the program, required by its federal
funders. Due to a significant budget reduction from the Corporation for National and
Community Service, PCA relinquished its sponsorship of the RSVP grant effective
3/31/12.
Articles in Milestones newspaper, in the Milestones e-news and in the PCA Aging
News Bulletin regularly highlight volunteers and volunteer opportunities.
2. Objective: Expand volunteer opportunities for older adults.
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Stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
increased employment opportunities for seniors by 20 slots and additional funding
from the Department of Labor increased senior employment by 20 slots. This was
available through FY2011.
Senior centers are using volunteer instructors, especially with the potential pool of
retiring Baby Boomers and their interest in civic engagement and how they can give
back to the community.
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